Geneva's Shakespeare in the 'Park' Will Move to Street This Year

Apparently, Genava has a Shakespeare Committee. Who knew? Is there also a Moliere Committee? Tennessee Williams Committee? George Bernard Shaw, perhaps?

At any rate, the committee is proposing its July 2012 summer Shakespeare in the Park take place in front of the History Center on Third Street from James to Campbell. And the Geneva City Council gave its blessing on the consent agenda Monday night.

The show starts at 6 p.m. July 21, and seating is ahead of that.

The reason for the move, of course, is that the , and the park is closed for the summer. Island Park traditionally plays the role of "Park" in Shakespeare in the Park.

According to a city of Geneva report, actors do not need a stage. "They will perform on the street put up some type of curtain for the cast to enter and exit through."

Graham’s and Stockholm’s will have ice cream and sandwiches available for sale. Committee representatives met with the businesses on the affected block. None of the businesses objected to the performance and most of the businesses were supportive of the event. Most of the stores on that block close at 5 p.m. Artemisia is the only business which typically stays open until 6 p.m., the report said.

The Shakespeare group will ask to detour traffic from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. east to Second Street and then back to Third Street and will need police assistance on marking off no parking for this area on Saturday.

The Shakespeare group has applied for a lawn permit to Kane County. The History Center will supply the electricity for the Shakespeare speaker system. They are working with Kane County Health Department on permits for the food vendors. 

The Shakespeare Committee agrees to maintain an 18-foot-wide fire lane for emergency vehicles on Third Street. The sidewalks must remain passable for the public allowing a 5-foot clear pathway, and the Shakespeare Committee will supply portable toilets for the event and clean up after the event.

SOURCE: City of Geneva